The Days of Flak, Fire, and Lost Friends

B-17s flying through German anti-aircraft flak. (PC: Zemper Collection, http://www.457thbombgroup.org)

Born on February 22, 1920, in Kannapolis, North Carolina, George Washington “Buck” Perry is the personification of “The Greatest Generation.” A dedicated family man, patriot, and veteran of two wars, he enlisted in the US Army Air Corps in 1939, flew 35 missions over Germany as a B-17 turret gunner during WWII, and served as…

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A Country Worth Fighting For

Marines landing at Guadacanal (PC: Karl Soule, USMC Archives)

http://nedforney.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/A-Country-Worth-Fighting-For.mp3 “If this country is worth living in, it’s worth fighting for. There is no set pattern – no time when you can say you’ve done enough.” – Albert Ireland, USMC, WWII and Korean War veteran, 9-time Purple Heart recipient Born in Cold Spring, New York, during the final months of WWI, Albert L. Ireland seemed…

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A Shining Example to the World

Veterans Day Parade 2016 (PC: Spencer Platt Getty Images)

WW2 Army Air Corps veteran Jimmy Stewart WWII Veteran Richard Overton, US Army, who died at the age of 112 (PC: AP) Col. Ruby Bradley, US Army Nurse Corps (PC: findagrave) Marine veteran Jin Park, Iraq (PC: Jin Park) Korean War veteran and MOH recipient PFC Gene Obregon, USMC (PC: US Marine Corps) Veterans Day,…

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They Stood Proud and Strong

Marines begin the long, cold trek to Hungnam, many would not survive.

“We grunts never knew, one day from the next, where we were or what we were accomplishing. The mountains, valleys, stinking rice paddies, and frozen mountains all seemed the same to us. We were living and dying in our own violent little world.” – Marine serving during the Korean War with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines The…

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An Angel in Fatigues

Nurses leaving for the America. Every nurse was awarded a Bronze Star for their bravery during captivity, 20 February 1945.

“Now don’t worry, you won’t be in any wars . . .”   – US Army recruiter’s promise to Ruby Bradley in 1933 In a little-known chapter of WWII and Korean War history, thousands of women served and sacrificed as nurses. Although often overlooked, their expertise, dedication, and courage under fire were an important part of…

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The Bravest Man I Ever Knew

Major Bud Day in Vietnam

“My God, to witness him sing the national anthem in response to having a rifle pointed at his face – well, that was something to behold. Unforgettable.” – John McCain A tribute to George “Bud” Day, one of the most decorated veterans in US history and the only person to be awarded the Medal of…

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They Pray Like Angels and Fight Like Demons

Borinqueneers in the Korean War

“The Puerto Ricans are proud of their heritage, and on top of that, the soldiers of the 65th Infantry are very proud of their Regiment . . .”  – William W. Harris, Commanding Officer, 65th Infantry Regiment Fought in sub-zero temperatures, brutal terrain, and knee-deep snow, the Chosin-Hungnam campaign, the most costly and potentially disastrous four weeks…

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We Will Remember Them

3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment attacking an enemy position in Korea in 1951.

A lot has been written about our brave young boys who went off to many theatres of war and came back maimed or didn’t come back at all, but very little has been written about the effects that these wars have had on Australian families who are left behind to battle on.  –  Louise Evans,…

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A Lifetime of Waiting

You Are Not Forgotten Their stories are heartbreaking. For decades, thousands of families – over 7,700 – have wondered when and if their son, husband, brother, or uncle will return from the Korean War. They’ve spent a lifetime waiting for a letter, a phone call, or a visit from a government official. But there’s been…

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